Venetian blind including a washable cloth slat



July 22,1958 J, RWHYTE ETAL I 2,844,198

VENETIAN BLIND INCLUDING A WASHABLE CLOTH SLAT Filed March 15, 1957 v 4" Sheets-Sheet l W 7 INVENTORS jQl/IH01VYlflZ01ZKO Jazz 1V 1: Biz/r12? 7i MTT RNEYS July 22, 1958 J. F. WHYTE ET AL VENETIAN BLINDgINCL-UDING A WASHABLE CLOTH SLAT Filed March 15, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS All 7W0? lfizaze'zfa Jw 1% W275 WMTTQRNEYS July 22, 1958 J. WHYTE ET AL VENETIAN BLIND INCLUDING A WASHABLE CLOTH SLAT Filed March 15, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTORS fill/IEO lfizogzro g/fi 1 7 hwyrz' ATTORNEYS July 22, 1958 J. F. WHYTE ETAL v VENETIAN BLIND INCLUDING A WASHABLE CLOTH SLAT Filed March 15, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent VENETIAN' BLIND INCLUDING A WASH-ABLE CLOTH SLAT John F. 'Whyte and Anthony'Lazorko, Philadelphia, Pa.

ApplicatiomMarch 15, 195.7,:Serial N0. 646,334

' 3 Claims. to]. 160-172) The present invention relates to Venetian blinds, and more particularly to Venetian blinds incorporating a washable, flexible cloth blind slat.

The primary object of the invention is 'to provide a Venetian blind .construction .in which flexible cloth blind slats are held under tension to maintain theirposition and means are provided for raising, lowering and tilting the tensi'oned slats.

Another object of the invention is .to provide a Venetian blindstructure of the class described above in which means are provided for positively lowering .the Venetian blind slats as well as positively raising the blind slats.

A further object of 'the invention is to provide a Venetian blind structure of the class described above in which guides are provided for the vertical edges of the blind, and the blind is adapted to reciprocate vertically therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a'Venetian blind having washable "textile slats which can be removed and washed in a'washing machine.

A still further :objectof the invention is to provide. a Venetian blind of the class described above which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to use and install, and which can be color-keyed, washed, replaced, and repaired with a minimum of expense and effort.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of the invention.

Figure '2 isa fragmentary top plan view'of the invention.

Figure 3' is a fragmentary front elevation of theinvention.

Figure 4 is afragmentary bottom planview of the mech .anisrn'i llustrated in Figure 3, with partsremoved for convenience of illustration.

Figure 5 is. a fragmentary enlarged perspective with parts broken away for convenience of'illustrati'on.

Figure .6 is: an enlarged. fragmentary front elevation of the invention.

Figure 7 is. an enlarged fragmentary endv elevation of the invention.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of the invention.

Figure 9 is ahorizontal section taken along the line 9--9 of Figure: 8, looking in the direction. of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical cross-section along the line 10-10 of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

tion taken along the line 14--14 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 15 is an exploded perspective of the mechanism shown in Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary transverse cross-section taken on the line 1616'of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 20 indicates generally a Venetian blind constructed in accordance with the invention.

The Venetian blind is for use with a window, generally indicated at 21, which includes a sill'22, a header 23, and spaced parallel vertical side frames 24 and 25, respectively. The Venetian blind 20 includes a box 26 which is secured to the upper ends of the side frame 24 or .25 beneath the header 23 by any suitable means. The box'26 is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending spaced parallel side members. 27 and 28, and a base plate '29 extending between the side members '27 and 28 at the lower edges thereof. The base plate 29 is somewhat shorter than the side members 27 and 28 to provide openings 3t and 31 at opposite ends of the box 26, for reasons to be described. An opening 32, extends through the base plate 29 adjacent the opening 31 but spaced therefrom, for reasons to be assigned.

A roller 33 is positioned between the side members 27 and 28 in overlying relation to the opening 30 and is "journalled therein by means of a pin 34 extending therethrough and through the side members 27 and 28. A second roller 35 is similarly positioned between the side members 27 and 28 outwardly of the roller 33 and positioned slightly thereabove. The roller 35 is secured between the side members 27 and 28 by a journal pin 36 passing through the side members 27 and 28 and through the roller 35.

A guide 37 is secured to the upper edges of the side members 27 and 28 between the rollers 33 and 35. The guide 37 has a central depending portion 38 extending downwardly between the rollers 33 and 35, for reasons to be assigned.

At the opposite end of the box 26, a roller 39 is positioned between the side members 27 and 28 and secured therebetween by means of a journal pin 40 extending through the side members 27 and 28 and the roller 39. A second roller 41 is similarly positioned between the side members 27 and 28 outwardly of the roller 39 and lying slightly thereabove. A journal pin 42' extends through the side members 27 and 28 and the roller 41 to journal the roller 41 on the box 26.

A guide 43 is positioned between the rollers 39 and 41 and secured to the upper surfaces of the side members 27 and 28. The guide 43 has a depending central portion 44 which extends downwardly between the rollers 39 and: 41 similarly to the central portion 38- of the guide 37. The rollers 33, 35, 39 and 41 are dished with their central portions having the smallest diameter.

A pair of rollers 45 and 46 extend between the side members: 27 and 28 adjacent the end of the opening 32 and adjacent the opening 31 in overlying relation to the opening 32. The rollers 45 and 46 are journalled on pins 47 and 48, respectively, extending through the side members 27 and 28 and through the rollers 45 and 46. The

rollers 45 and 46 are arranged in spaced parallel relation to eachother in the same horizontal plane.

A roller 49 is positioned betweenthe side members 27 and 28 and is mounted on a journal pin 50 extending therethrough. The roller 49 is arranged in spaced parallel relation to the rollers 45 and 46 and is positioned somewhat above the rollers 45 and 46, as best seen in Figure 3.

A roller 51 is positioned between the side members 27 and 28 and mounted on a journal pin 52 in spaced parallel relation to the rollers 45, 46 and 49. The roller 51 is positioned in a plane somewhat below the rollers and 46, as best shown in Figure 3. The roller 51 is positioned adjacent the end of the opening 32 furthest removed from the opening 31 with the roller 49 lying between the roller 51 and the roller 46.

The journal pins 34, 36, 40, 42, 47, 48, and 52 are each arranged horizontally in spaced parallel relation to each other. Guide staples 53 are arranged medially of the base plate 29 in longitudinally spaced relation in parallel, spaced relation to the side members 27 and 28, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3.

A pair of guide members 54 and 55 are secured to the side frames 24 and 25, respectively, of the window 21 and have a generally rectangular horizontal cross-section with the inner faces thereof having vertically extending slots 56 formed therein.

A plurality of sliders, generally indicated at 57, are arranged in each of the slots 56 and consist of a generally rectangular plate 58 having the opposite vertical edges thereof reverted as at 59 and 60 to provide portions 61 and 62, respectively, overlying the plate 58 and in contact therewith. The portions 61 and 62 are reverted at 63 and 64, respectively, and have portions 65 and 66 extending therefrom in spaced parallel relation to the portions 61 and 62 so as to provide means for the slider 57 to encompass the opposite sides of the slots 56 securing the slider 57 to the guide members 54 and 55 for vertical sliding movement within the slots 56.

The sliders 57 are each provided with a horizontal bore 67 arranged in the plate 58 thereof. The lowermost slider 57 on each of the guide members 54 and 55 is provided with a shaft 68 having an eye 69 formed on one end, with the shaft 68 extending through the bore 67 so that the eye 69 is within the guide members 54 and 55, respectively.

Each of the sliders 57 above the lowermost slider 57 in each of the guide members 54 and 55 are provided with a horizontally extending shaft 73 passing through the bore 67 in the plate 58 and having a head 74 formed on its inner end. A coil spring 75 encompasses the shaft 73 hearing against the plate 58 at one end and against a washer 76 at the other end thereof which is retained on the shaft 73 by means of the head 74. The shaft 73 on the side of the slider 57 opposite the head 74 is laterally offset at 77, as best seen in Figure 12.

The lateral olfset 77 is reverted at 78 and is provided with an extension 79 arranged in spaced parallel relation to the offset portion 77. The end of the extension 79 opposite the reverted portion 78 is reverted at 80 terminating in a relatively short offset portion 81 arranged in spaced parallel relation to the extension 79 and in axial alignment with the offset portion 77.

A plurality of washable textile cloth slats 82 are hemmed at each of their opposite ends so as to form a relatively wide loop 83 at each end thereof which is adapted to engage over the extension 79 and be retained thereon by the reverted portions 78 and 80 at the opposite ends thereof, as best shown in Figure 12. The slats 82 are supported in the same manner at each end and are arranged in vertically spaced parallel relation, as best shown in Figure 1.

A horizontal bar 84 extends between the lowermost sliders 57 on the guide members 54 and 55, respectively, and mounted on the shaft 68 at the end thereof opposite the eye 69. I

A pair of tapes 87 and 88 at each side of the blind 20 are arranged in spaced parallel relation and have their lower ends arranged in underlying relation to the bar 84. A cloth loop 85 extends under the bar 84 and has its opposite ends secured to the upper face thereof, by securing elements 89. Separable fasteners 86 are secured to the cloth loop 85 and the lower ends of the tapes 87 and 88 detachably securing the tapes 87 and 88 to the bar 84. The tapes 87 and 88 are each hemmed at their upper ends to form a loop 90 thereon, as best shown in Figure 5.

Transverse support tapes 91 extend between the tapes 87 and 88 and have end portions 92 and 93, respectively, which are sewed or otherwise secured to the tapes 87 and 88, respectively, to support the slats 82. Slats 82 are sewed or otherwise secured to tapes 91.

A pair of angle iron brackets 94 and 95 extend transversely of the box 26 in underlying relation thereto at opposite ends of the opening 32 in the base plate 29. Angle iron brackets 94 and 95 are secured to the box 26 by means of securing elements 96.

The angle iron bracket 94 terminates at a point spaced below the box 26. The angle iron bracket 95 is provided with a relatively long depending leg 99 and a pair of guide pin 100 and 101 are supported in the brackets 94 and 95, respectively, and have offset end portions 102 formed thereon to assist in securing the guide pins 100 and 101 in the brackets 94 and 95.

The box 26 at the end thereof opposite the brackets 94 and 95 is provided with a bracket 103 secured thereto and having a depending portion 104 formed thereon. A pair of ears 105 and 106 project laterally from the depending portion 104 and are each provided with a bore 107 in aligned relation. The depending portion 104 is recessed at 108 centrally thereof to receive a worm gear 109 integrally formed on a shaft 110 journalled in the bores 107 in the ears 105 and 106.

A pulley 111 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 110 so that rotation of the shaft 110 is effected by rotation of the pulley 111. A cord guide 112 is journalled on the shaft 110 and depends therefrom in position to guide a cord trained over the pulley 111.

' A plate 113 is journalled on the lower end of the depending portion 104 of the bracket 103 by means of a pivot pin 114. The support plate 113 is provided with a gear segment 115 in mesh with the worm gear 109, as best shown in Figure 10. The support plate 113 has a horizontally extending portion 116 carrying an upwardly offset end portion 117 thereon. The upwardly ofiset end portion 117 is provided with a pair of horizontal slots 118 and 119 arranged in aligned relation. The support plate 113 is adapted to be rotated on its journal 114 upon rotation of the worm gear 109 by the pulley 111.

A U-shaped yoke 120 is supported on the journal 114 and turns therewith. The U-shaped yoke 120 extends oppositely from the support plate 113 and has a pair of parallel arms 121 and 122 formed thereon. The parallel arms 121 and 122 on the yoke 120 are each provided with a head 123 on its outer end.

The depending portion 99 of the bracket 95 is provided with a downwardly inclined slot 124 which is adapted to be closed by a pivoted stop 124a carried by the depending portion 99.

An elongated upper bar 125 extends between the bracket 103 and the bracket 95 in vertically spaced parallel relation to the box 26. A flat blade 126 having a pair of barbed points 127 formed thereon is driven into one end 128 of the bar 125, as best shown in Figures 8 and 9. A shaft pin 129 extends through the slot 124 and is driven into the end 130 of the bar 125, as best shown in Figures 8 and 9.

A u-shaped yoke 131 is mounted on the pin 129 and has a pair of arms 132 and 133 extending therefrom in laterally spaced relation. The arms 132 and 133 are each provided with heads 134 formed on their outer ends, for reasons to be assigned. The blade 126 on the end 128 of the bar 125 extends through the slots 118 and 119 of the upwardly offset end portion 117, as best shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, so as to support the bar 125 and rotate the same upon rotation of the support plate 113.

The loops 90 of the tapes 87 and 88 are supported on the arms 121, 122, 132, and 133, respectively, and are held thereon by the heads 123 and 124, respectively, so that the tapes 87 and 88 are supported in taut relation from the bar 125.

A generally rectangular box 135 is secured to the forward side of the box 26 by means of securing elements 136 extending through ears 137 formed on opposite ends of the box 135. The box 135 is provided with an angularly truncated lower end wall 138 extending thereacross, as best seen in Figures 4 and 7.

A plate 139 is pivotally secured by a journal pin 140 within the box 135 between the opposite side walls 141 and 142 thereof. The plate 139 is provided with a plurality of slots 143, as best shown in Figure 15. The outer wall 144 of the box 135 is provided with a plurality of bores 145, as best seen in Figures 6 and 15.

A plurality of pins 146 are each provided with a head 147 at one end and an offset extension 148 at the opposite end. A coil spring 149 is provided for each of the pins 146 and is adapted to encompass the pin 146. The pin 146 extends through the truncated bottom wall 138, through the slots 143, and through the bores 145 where it is held by the offset end portion 148 with the spring 149 engaging the truncated bottom wall 138 at one end and the hinged plate 139 at the other biasing the lower end 150 of the plate 139 into engagement with the front 6 most slider 57 on each of the guide members 54 and 55 so that movement of the cord 154 will move the bar 84 vertically in the guide members 54 and 55. To vertically adjust the bar 84, and hence open and close the slats 82 of the blind 20, the portions of the cord 154 depending from the box 135 are pulled in the following manner.

To raise the bar 84, the portions of the cord 154 depending from the pulleys 49 and 51 are pulled downwardly which simultaneously pulls the plate 139 away from. the wall 144 against the tension of the spring 149,

thus releasing the portions of the cord 154 dependingfrom the pulleys 45 and 46 so that as the cord 154 is pulled further, the cord 154 depending from the pulleys 45 and 46 will be pulled upwardly an equal amount. Upon release of the pulling pressure on the cord 154, the plate 139 will be released and all of the cords 154 depending from the box 135 will be locked in adjusted position.

journal pins 152, as best illustrated in Figure 5. A roller I 15111 is journalled in a bracket 152a and mounted at the upper end of each of the guide members 54 and 55.

A cord 153 is trained over the pulley 111 and extends through the cord guide 112 forwardly of the blind 20. The cord 153 can be pulled to rotate the pulley 111 and the bar 125 along with the yokes 120 and 131. The tapes 87 and 88 are caused to move in opposite directions by the tilting of the yokes 120 and 131, thus tilting the slats 82 to close or open the blinds as desired.

A cord 154 is trained over the pulley and extends downwardly through the guide member 55 and around the pulley 151 at the lower end thereof. The cord 154 then extends up the guide member 55, over the pulley 151a, then over the pulley 33, across the box 26, and over the pulley 51. The cord 154 then extends outwardly under the pin 100 and over the plate 139 depending from the box 135. The cord 154 is then reverted and extends upwardly into the box 135, over the plate 139, and under the pin 100. The cord 154 is then extended upwardly over the pulley 49 and out to the pulley 39.

The cord 154, after passing over the pulley 39, is trained about the pulley 151a at the opposite side of the blind 20 and extends downwardly through the guide 54 and around the pulley 151 in the lower end thereof. The cord 154 then extends upwardly from the pulley 151 over the pulley 151a and over the pulley 41 from whence it extends inwardly and is trained over the pulley 45. The ocrd 154 then passes downwardly over the pin 101 and outwardly around the plate 139 depending from the box 135. The cord 154 is then reverted to extend back upwardly into the box 135 and across the plate 139 under the pin 101 and upwardly over the pulley 46 from which it extends to the pulley 35, the point of beginning.

The cord 154 is secured to the eye 69 on the lower- Obviously, to lower the bar 84, the cords 154 depending from the pulleys 45 and 46 are pulled downwardly, thus releasing the plate 139 and raising the cords 154 depending from the pulleys 59 and 51 simultaneously.

The guide staples 53 are arranged to prevent the cords 154 from becoming entangled with each other, and the guides 37 and 43 likewise maintain the cords 154 in spaced relation.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A Venetian blind comprising a pair of vertically extending spaced parallel hollow guide members, a plurality of washable cloth slats arranged in vertically spaced parallel relation between said guide members, a slat tensioning support detachably secured to each end of each slat, said slat tensioning supports each being supported for vertical sliding movement in one of said guide members, means extending through said guide members for vertically adjusting said slats, a pair of oppositely disposed yokes, means supporting said yokes in overlying relation with respect to said slats, a pair of spaced parallel upright tapes depending from each of said yokes with said slats extending therebetween, a plurality of transverse tapes extending between and secured to the tapes of each pair of said upright tapes, said transverse tapes being arranged in vertically spaced parallel relation with each of said slats having each of the opposite end portions thereof secured to one of said tapes, and means for tilting said yokes to simultaneously tilt said slats.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided for releasably locking the means for vertically adjusting said slats.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said Venetian blind includes a horizontal box extending transversely between the upper ends of said guides with the means supporting and the means tilting said yokes supported thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,165,669 Wade July 11, 1939 2,524,372 Bopp et al. Oct. 3, 1950 2,549,691 Klonowski Apr. 17, 1951 2,625,219 Peck Ian. 13, 1953 

